Plug connecter



Patented Apr. 12, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFECE PLUG CONNECTER William Huppert, New York, N. Y., assigner to Ampex, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May 11, 1933, Serial No. 670,431

14 Claims.

A.g part insulating housing and provided with novel means for detachably attaching the parts of the housing together without the use of screws, rivets, bolts or the like fastening devices.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a plug connecter of the character described, a highly improved and novel switch which shall be positive in operation and insure a good electrical contact.

A stillfurther object of this invention is to provide a plug connecter of the character described having improved heat insulating means for obviating the danger of injury to the hands of the person manipulating the plug connecter.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a compact, strong and rugged plug connecter of the character described, which shall be relativelyT inexpensive to manufacture, comprise few and simple parts, easy to assemble and disassemble for repair, and which shallnevertheless be practical and eflcient to a high degree.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplied in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is .35 shown one of the various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. l is an elevational, cross-sectional view of a plug connecter embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevational interior view of the A4() plug connecter, with one of the housing parts removed;

Fig. 3 is an elevational interior view of the other housing part;

Fig. 4 is a, cross-sectional view taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken through the ball and cup of the switch;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the pin attaching device for the housing parts;

Fig. '7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 'I-I of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of my improved plug connecter.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, I0 designates a plug connecter embodying the invention,

comprising a pair of mating, hollow insulating housing parts or sections II and l2 made of phenol-condensate products or any other suitable material, having mutually contacting edges Ita and I 2a. The housing parts II and I2 are substantially similar in outer shape and provided with lower end walls i4 and Illa respectively, each formed with a pair of spaced, curved notches I5. The notches I5 `ofthe housing part II register with the notches I5 of ythe housing part I2 to form two openings |50, at the lower end of the housing for receiving plug blades or terminals of an electric heating iron or other electrical appliance. c

The upper end walls 2i? and 20a of the housing parts II-and I2 respectively, are each formed with a semi-circular recess or notch I, said notches registering to form a neck opening Il for receiving a exible tube ISP through which the duplex cable I8 passesinto the plug tube i9. Said end walls 20, a. are further formed with semicircular grooves 2l registering to form an annular or circular groove for receiving the flange portion 22 of the iexible tube I9. The grooves 2l are formed with recesses 2Ia receiving projections 22a in said ange portion 22 to prevent rotation of said tube. Said tube I9 may be made of rubber and protects the duplex cable I 3. It is formed at the end thereof with handle extensions 22b which may be grasped by the fingers for disconnecting the plug from an electrical appliance to which the same may be attached. The edge of said upper end wall 20 of the housing part II is further formed on opposite sides of the neck opening with small projecting dowel pins 23, and the edge of the upper end wall 20a, of the housing part I2 is formed with openings 24 receiving said pins 23 to aid in registering said housing parts when assembled.

The housing part II is formed with a bottom wall 21 and side walls 28 and 29 extending from the lower end wall I4 to the upper end wall 20. The lower end wall I4 is formed at the middle thereof and on the outer surface thereof with a recess or cavity and with a groove 3I interconnecting said recess 3D with the inner flat surface of said lower end wall. Extending from the middle of the lower end wall I4 on the inside thereof, toward the upper end wall, is a projection 32 formed with a groove 32a' communicating with the groove 3I and having a recess or notch 33 therein.

Projecting from said bottom wall 21 is a shallow boss 35 extending from the portion 32 and formed with a central cylindrical opening 36. There eX- tends from said bottom wall 21 and adjacent the boss 35, a projection 31 extending above the plane of the edge IIa. Said projection 31 is formed with a slot or groove 38 extending to the outer surface 33 of said bottom wall. Extending from said bottom wall is another post or projection 4| aligned with the projection 31, having the height thereof and formed with a slot or groove 42, likewise communicating with the outer surface 39 of said bottom wall.

The housing part I2 is likewise formed with a bottom wall 21a, similar to the bottom wall 21 of the housing part I I. Extending from the bottom wall 21a are side walls 28a and 29a adapted to register with the side walls 28 and 29 of the housing part II. Extending from the lower end wall Ida of said housing part is a projectiony 5I) extending towards the upper end wall 20a formed with a groove 5| registering with the groove 32. Extending from the bottom wall 21a is a post 53 formed with a slot 54 communicating with the outer surface 55 of said bottom wall 21a. The post 53 is adapted to be received between the projection 32 and the post 31 of the housing part II and is formed with a cylindrical lug 56 received within the opening 36 to aid in registering the housing parts.

Extending from the bottom wall 21a is a second post 59 substantially similar to the post 53 received between the posts 31 and 4| of the housing part II. The post 59 is formed with a slot 60 communicating with the outer surface 55 of the bottom wall 21a of said housing part I2.

The slot 54, it will be noted, overlaps the slot 38 and the slot 63 overlaps the slots 38 and 42. The housing parts II and I2 may be placed together and fastened by means of an L-shaped pin 54, shown in detail in Fig. 6 of the drawing. Said pin 64 is provided with a shank 65 extending through the overlapping portions of the slots 54, 38, 6G and 42. Extending from the shank 65 at an angle thereto, is a slightly curved portion 66 extending within the groove 3| and projecting into the recess 30. The portion 61 of shank 65 adjacent portion 66 is received within the registering grooves 32a and 5|, said portion 61 being offset at 58 forming a hump adapted to snap into the recess 33 in the groove 32d to retain the pin from sliding out. The groove 5I is sufciently deep to permit the pin to be pushed back to disengage the hump from recess 33 to allow withdrawal of said pin.

As shown in Fig. l of the drawing, the inner edges 51 and 6| of the slots 54 and 60 are inclined in one direction, whereas the inner edges 44 and 42a of the slots 38 and 42 respectively, are inclined in an opposite direction. With this construction, as the pin is pushed through the slots 5,4, 38, 56 and 42 the end of the pin will be guided by said inclined edges through the slots, and the pin will be slightly bent to effect a strong frictional grip. Thus as the forward end of the pin engages the inclined edge 51 as the pin is being introduced, said end of the pin will be guided onto the inclined edge 44. The inclined edge 44, will guide the end of the pin onto the inclined edge 6I from where said end will be guided onto the edge 42a. With this construction the two housing parts may be firmly attached together.

Of course, the housing parts may be separated by forceably withdrawing the pin 64, the recess 33 permitting a tool to be inserted beneath the end 65 of said pin for withdrawing the same.

It will now be understood that the shank 65 of the pin 64 may be seen through the openings 54 and 68 from one side of the plug connecter and through the openings 38 and 42 from the other side of the plug connecter.

Looking now at the housing part I I, there interconnects the post 4| with the side Wall 29, a web portion 'lll having a curved slot 1| and a shoulder 12 adjacent said curved slot. Extending from the bottom wall 21 are a pair of spaced posts 14, aligned with the notches I5, for the purpose hereinafter appearing. Adjacent the upper end wall 20 there extends from the bottom wall 21 a transverse wall 15, parallel to said end wall and having on one side thereof a curved slot 15, similar to the curved slot 1| in the web 1I] and symmetrical therewith, and a shoulder 11 adjacent said slot 16. The edge of wall 15 is formed with a groove 18 adjacent one end thereof and a groove 13 adjacent the opposite end thereof. There further extends upwardly from said bottom wall 21 a boss 8| located substantially mid-way between the web 13 and the transverse wall 15 and adjacent the wall 28.

Fixed to the bosses 14 are a pair of folded over spring contact members 83 preferably each formed of a single piece of metal folded in half and shaped for receiving the terminal blades or prongs inserted through the openings I5a at the lower end of the connecter plug. The spring contacts 83 may be fixed to the posts or bosses 14 by means of screws or rivets 84, 84a or in any other suitable manner.

Screwed to the upper right hand corner of the housing part between the wall 15 and the upper end wall 20 and adjacent the groove 18, is a terminal binding screw 86. Interconnecting the rivet 84a. with the screw 86 is a strip of conducting metal 81, one end of which is fastened to the spring contact 83 by means of the rivet or screw 84a, and the other end of which is formed with a screw threaded opening receiving the,

screw 86. The strip 81 is preferably channelshaped so as to be received within the housing part I2 when the parts are assembled. One of the wires from the duplex cable I8 may be fastened to the screw 86.

Mounted on the housing part is a curved segmental track 96 preferably made of metal and having the ends thereof received within the slots 1I and 16. The track 35 is provided with guide flanges 9| cn both sides thereof. Pivoted to the post 8| by means of a pin or rivet 33 fixed to said post, is a lever 95, preferably made of insulating material and projecting through a slot S6 formed in the wall 28. Attached to the inner end 99 of the lever 95 is a coil compression spring i3!) engaging at the outer end thereof a ball IUI received within a cup-shaped member |02 formed with a central opening |03 permitting said ball to contact the inner surface of the curved track 9|). As shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, the spring |83 presses the ball upwardly for retaining the cup-shaped member |02 in contact with the shoulder 11. Should the lever 95 be depressed, when the end 93 thereof passes dead center, the spring |38 will force or snap the ball and cup downwardly against the shoulder 12, the ball IIJI having rolling contact with the track, during this action.

It will be noted that the opening |03 in the cup-shaped member |02 is of sufficient size to permit a portion of the ball IBI to project therethrough for contacting the inner surface of the track 3U. As the switch is actuated to the on and oir position the ball IUI rolls on the inner surface of the track thereby reducing the friction and wear of the parts to a mini-mum. The cup is somewhat loose and' thereforey does not frictionally rub against either the track or the projections |20, |2011.. The cup. prevents the ball from slipping out during movement of the switch from the on to off position. By reason of the metal to metal Contact between theI ball and the track the iitting mayy be4 used' for long periods of time without appreciable wear.

Attached to the rivet 84 and l-ying against the inner surface of the bottom wall 2T is a conductor strip |05 terminating in an ear at |06, adjacent the shoulder T'IL As shown in Fig; 2 off the drawing, when the cup is in its upward position or on, the cup |02 is in contact with the ear |06. If desired, the' ball may be omitted, the spring then acting directly on the cup |02.

Fixed to thewall |09, forming the bottom of the groove i9, is a rivet or screw I l0, and fixedA to said wal-l by means of said screw or rivet is a conducting strip l2 having a portion in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the conductor strip |05 and terminating in an ear ||3 aligned with the ear |06 and parallel thereto and likewise adapted to be engaged by the cup |02 when the latter is in the upper or on position. Screwed to the upper end of the conductor strip ||2is a terminal binding screw |f|5 to which there may be attached the other wire from the duplex cable i8. It will now be understood that in the position shown in Fig. 2' the switch is on the current passing from onel of the conductor wires through the conductor strip 8T to one spring contact member 83, 'and' from the other wire through the conductor strip H2, cup |02, and conductor strip |05-, to the other spring contact member 83.

When the outer end or handle portion of the lever 95 isv depressed', the spring pressed cup moves to the lower portion thereof andthe switch is off. There extends upwardly from the bottom wall 21 of the housing part a curved wall |20 adapted to contact one side ofthe cup |02 when the latter isv moved to its downward position.

The wall 28a of the housing part |-2 is formed with a slot portion 96a registering with the slot portion 96 of the wall 28 of the housing part said slots together forming; an opening for the lever 95. Extendingl from the wall 21a of said housing part |2` is a wall' or web` 15a adapted to register and have edge to edge contact with the wall l5. The walls 15, and 15au together form a partition adjacent-the upper end ofA the plug connecter, acting 'as a' heat insulator and protector adjacent the neck opening of the plug connecter.

Extending from the bottom wall 21a of the housing part is a curved wall |20a aligned with the curved wall |20 of the housing part and adapted to engage the side fianges of the cup |02 when the latter moves to its downward position, said cup thus being received between said curved walls |20 and |20a which aid in guiding the movement of the said cup.

Extending from the transverse wall 15a of the housing part |2 is a stepped portion |30 adapted to contact one side edge of the upper end of the curved track 90. Extending from the bottom wall 21a of said housing part |2 is a small. post |3| adapted to engage the side edge of the lower end of said track 90. With this construction, the track is firmly held in place when the housing parts are attached together.

Extending from the walls 29 and 29a of the housing parts and |2 are webs |2| and |2|a adapted to be aligned with and engage the outer surface of' the track 90 to aid in positioning said track. A cylindrical projection |23 extending from the bottom wall 21a, of the housing part |2 serves to receive a portion of the screw or rivet 93r when the housing parts are placed together.

It will now be understood that all of the metal or current carrying parts may be attached and assembled with the housing part The wires from the conductor cable I8 may be attached to the binding posts and thereafter the housing part |2 may be placed over the housing part I| an-d the pin 64' inserted to attach the two parts together.

The housing parts and |2 are preferably molded. In molding said members thebottom of the molds may be provided with projections for forming the slots 42 and 38 of the member and the slots 54 and 60 of the housing member |2. By moldingthe members in this manner the molded members can be readily removed from the molds by merely lifting.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is welly adapted to meet theA conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments lmight be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made-in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:-

1-. An electrical attachment tting comprising an insulating housing, a curved segmental track mounted within said housing, a lever pivoted to said housing, a coil compression spring attached to one endv of said lever, a member slidably mounted on said track having an opening,l a ball received in said member and partially extending through saidopening, said spring engaging said ball to press the same against` the inner surface of said track.

2. An electrical attachment fitting' comprising an insulating housing, a curved segmental track mounted within said housing, a lever pivoted to said housing, a coilv compression spring attached to one end of said lever, a member slidably mounted on said track, having an opening, a kball received in said member and partially extending through saidl opening, said spring engaging said ball to press the same against the inner surface of said track, said track having flanges engaging opposite sides of said member for guiding the same.

3. An electrical attachment fitting comprising an insulating housing having a pair of spaced walls formed with slots, a curved track mounted within said housing and having the ends thereof receive-d within said slots, a lever pivoted to said housing, a spring attached at one end thereof directly to an end of said lever, and a member directly engaging the inner surface of said track and pressed by said spring against said inner surface, and means actuated by said spring for slidably moving said member in said track.

4. An electrical attachment tting comprising an insulating housing having a pair of spaced walls formed with slots, a curved track mounted within said housing and having the ends thereof received within said slots, a lever pivoted to said housing, a spring attached at one end thereof directly to an end of said lever, and a member directly engaging the inner surface of said track and pressed by said spring against said inner surface, said track having guide flanges engaging opposite sides of said member.

5. An electric attachment fitting comprising an insulating housing having a pair of spaced Walls formed With slots and shoulders adjacent said slots, a curved track having the ends thereof received Within said slots, a lever pivoted to said housing, a spring attached at one end thereof to an end of said lever, a cup-shaped member engaging the inner surface of said track, said cupshaped member having an opening, a ball pressed by said spring against the inner surface of said track, said ball extending through said opening in said cup-shaped member, said cup-shaped member being adapted to strike said shoulders upon, manipulating said lever.

6. An electric attachment fitting comprising an insulating housing having a pair of spacedvvalls formed With slots and shoulders adjacent said slots, a curved track having the ends thereof received Within said slots, a lever pivoted to said housing, a spring attached at one end thereof to an end of said lever, a cup-shaped member engaging the inner surface of said track, said cupshaped member having an opening, a ball pressed by said spring against the inner surface of said track, said ball extending through said opening in said cup-shaped member, said cup-shaped member being adapted to strike said shoulders upon manipulating said lever, and said curved track having a pair of flanges engaging opposite sides of said cup-shaped member.

'7. An electric attachment fitting comprising an insulating housing, a curved track Within said housing, a lever pivoted to said housing, a ball engaging the inner surface of said track, and a spring cooperating with said lever for directly pressing said ball against said track, a member slidably movable in said track and adapted to be so moved by said ball.

8. An electrical attachment fitting comprising an insulating housing, a curved segmental track mounted within said housing, a lever pivoted to said housing, a coil compression spring attached to one end of said lever, a member slidably mounted on said track and having an opening, a ball received in said member and partially extending through said opening, said spring engaging said ball to press the same against the inner surface of said track, and means on opposite sides of said member for guiding the same during movement thereof.

9. An electrical attachment tting comprising an insulating housing, a curved segmental track mounted Within said housing, a lever pivoted to said housing, a coil compression spring attached directly to one end of said lever, a member slidably movable on said track, said spring engaging said member to press the same directly against the inner surface of said track.

10. An electrical attachment tting comprising an insulating housing and a switch Within said housing including a curved track, and a member having rolling contact With said track, said member being freely rotatable in all directions, and means for oscillating said member on said track.

11. An electrical attachment fitting comprising an insulating housing, a curved metal track Within said housing, a lever pivoted to said housing, and a spring pressed metal member frictionally engaging the inner surface of said track and means cooperating with said lever for slidably moving said member along the surface of said track.

12. An electrical attachment tting comprising an insulating housing, a curved metal track Within said housing, a lever pivoted to said housing and a spring pressed metal member directly engaging the inner surface of said track and cooperating with said lever, said spring pressed member having universal rolling contact with said track, said track being provided with guide flanges engaging opposite sides of said member.

13. An electrical attachment fitting comprising a pair of mating housing insulating parts, means for attaching said parts together, a curved track Within said housing, a shaft fixed to one of the housing parts, a lever pivotally mounted on said shaft, a spring attached at one end thereof to said lever, a member engaging said spring and pressed thereby against the inner surface of said track, said other housing part having a tubular portion receiving the free end of said shaft.

14. An electrical attachment fitting comprising a pair of mating housing parts, one of said parts being formed With spaced slots, an independent curved track member mounted Within said housing parts and having the ends thereof received Within said slots, a lever pivoted to said housing, a spring attached at one end thereof to an end of said lever, a member engaging the inner surface of said track and pressed by said spring against said inner surface, and projections on the other of said housing parts engaging the side edges of the ends of said curved track to aid in positioning of said track.

WILLIAM HUPPERT. 

